Mr Ali said that that overnight the former Welsh curry house of the year winner lost nearly 60 per cent of its customers - but he was now working hard to get them back.

The owner, who has run the popular curry house on Anglesey since 2009, said the restaurant ran into trouble in March after Anglesey Council hygiene inspectors said they found an “ant infestation” and mould growing a vegetable store room wall.

But Mr Ali, who claims he was the first Indian restaurant in North Wales to have scored the top five rating after the system was introduced said the low mark had a “devastating” impact on his business.

He said he was also the victim of vile racist abuse when one ignorant thug insulted him to his face, while he was out with his young son.

A customer who reviewed the restaurant on TripAdvisor on June 10 described the Sopna as the “best Indian restaurant in the area”.

The review says: “If you love your curry this is the place for you. A must visit. Fantastic food with great service with a smile.”

A spokesperson on behalf of the Isle of Anglesey County Council said, “The Authority’s Food Safety Officers work to the highest possible standards and regularly participate in national consistency exercises to ensure that scoring is accurate and reflects conditions seen at the time of visit.

Sopna Tandoori restaurant on Menai Bridge (Image: Daily Post Wales)

“It is vital that our officers carry out unannounced inspections and this could happen at any point of the day.

“Following the initial inspection carried out at the restaurant we are very pleased to see that the proprietor has gone to great lengths to rectify concerns raised in the report.

“At the time of the initial food hygiene inspection the proprietor was given, as is all proprietors, a right of appeal against the scoring.

“In this instance we did not receive and appeal and would therefore totally refute the claims now being made by the proprietor and stand by the original inspection report which was a true reflection of the restaurant’s hygiene rating at the time.”

The Sopna is open from 5pm until 11pm daily. To book a table or to order food, call 01248 717778.